Virginia gastroenterologist seeks rabies treatment after bat entered her mouth while sleeping
Dr. Krista Edelman, a gastroenterologist in Richmond, Virginia, was bitten by a bat that entered her mouth during sleep and received post-exposure rabies prophylaxis after the animal tested negative.
A Virginia gastroenterologist was awakened by a bat that had entered her mouth while she was half-asleep. Dr. Krista Edelman said she felt a slimy, hairy object and realized it was a bat trying to pass her teeth. She threw the animal across the room and later learned it tested negative for rabies.
Because she had direct contact with the bat and had not been previously vaccinated, Dr. Edelman went to an emergency department and began a rabies vaccine series, including immunoglobulin, as a precaution.
"If you live in an older home, check those attics and chimneys," she advised, adding that anyone who wakes up with a bat in the room should seek medical advice promptly.
Health officials note that while most bats are healthy, they can carry rabies, which is responsible for the majority of rabies deaths in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that any potential bat exposure be treated as a possible bite, especially when the bite may be unnoticed.
The agency advises against handling bats with bare hands. Instead, they recommend capturing the animal in a container while wearing thick gloves, sealing it, and contacting the state health department for testing. If a bat is found in a sleeping area, medical evaluation is recommended even without a visible bite.